Container with cover lock



Sept 25 1962 J. P. HAMILTON l 3,055,570

CONTAINER WITH COVER LOCK Filed April 3, 1961 INVEN TOR: JOSEPH POQTOL #4M/70N BY Ej f Mi/M nited States Patent 3,035,576 CNTAINER Wiiti CGVER LCK Joseph Portola Hainiiton, flamand, Calif., assignor to Western Kraft Corporation, a corporation of @regoli Filed Apr. 3, 1961, Ser. No. 106,391 8 Claims. (Cl. 229-16) This invention relates to a fiberboard container having 'a cover and more particularly to a Ifiberboard container having two overlying thicknesses of corrugated paper at least one end thereof, a narrow horizontal ledge at such end thereof bridging the distance between the top edges of the two thicknesses, the ledge having integral therewith a horizontal tab cut from the adjacent, overlying interior end panel, and at least one cover flap, a corner of which can be placed beneath the aforementioned tab so as to retain the cover llap in place.

It is an object of this invention to provide a iiberboard container having means for retaining one or more cover flaps in a closed position without the use of adhesive, staples, clips, etc.

Another object of this invent-ion is to provide a locking tab for a iibenboard container which can be used to hold a cover flap in place even after the container has once been opened.

`Other objects and advantages of .this invention, if not `specifically set out, will become apparent during the course of the description which follows.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a plan View of the iiberboard blank of this invention, dotted lines representing score lines and solid lines representing cuts.

lFIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a container with the cover iiaps thereof held closed through the use of the locking tabs of this invention.

FIGURE 3 is an end elevation taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

'FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary .perspective view of the container of FIGURE 2 at the instant af-ter the cover flaps have been swung upwardly away from the locked position shown in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section showing one tab and one corner of the container of FIGURE 2, the structure being viewed at right angles to FIGURE 3 showing the locking and unlocking action.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like characters refer to like parts throughout, there is yshown a single rectangular blank which represents the preferred container to which to apply the invention in that the container has iive thicknesses of iiberboard at either end, thus increasing its stacking strength. The outer (lowermost) bottom of the container has score lines 12 running along the longitudinal edges thereof providing hinges for the side panels 14 and 16. The lateral edges 15 of the bottom 10 are cut free. The side panels 14 and 16 may have one or more Ventilating holes therein. Score lines 18 and 20 run along the longitudinal edges of the panels 14 and 16, respectively, and articulated therealong are cover panels 22 and 24. Side panel 14 is provided with score lines 26 -along its lateral edges. A pai-r of rectangular end panels 28 and 30 are hinged thereto. Similarly, the opposite side Wall 16 is provided with score lines 32 along its lateral edges and exterior end wall panels 34 and 36 lare hinged therealong.

Each of the exterior er1-d panels 34 and 36 has hinged thereto along a longitudinal edge and, more specifically, along lines 40 and 42, respectively, a bottom reinforcing panel designated 44 and 46 respectively. When yassembled, as shown in FIGURE 2, leading edges 48 and 50 of the aforementioned bottom reinforcing panels 44 and 46 approach one another vwhile overlying the bottom 10. End wall panels 28 and 30 each have hinged therer3ice to along longitudinal edges represented by lines 49 and S1 respectively, additional reinforcing end wall panels 52 and 54 respectively. Additional reinforcing panels 56 and 58 are hingedly connected to the other longitudinal edges of panels -28 and 30 by means of pairs of spaced score lines 69, 62 and 64, 66 respectively. Each of panels `S6 and 58 is provided with a ton-gue 57 which registers with the 4slots 59 of bottom reinforcing panel 44 or 46 and '59a ofthe bottom panel 10 when the container is assembled.

End panels 68 and 70 represent the innermost end Walls of the assembled container, and each is provided with a Itongue designated 72 which registers with the appropriate slot 59 of the bottom'reinforcing panel 44 or 46 when the container is assembled. End wall 68 is hinged to supporting panel 34 along a longitudinal edge thereof and more particularly along the spaced score lines and 81 which together provide the narrow horizontal ledge 82 of the assembled container. Similarly, interior end wall 70 is hinged along a longitudinal edge of panel 36 and, more particularly, along spaced score lines 84 and 85. The spaced score lines together form a narrow horizontal ledge 86 in the assembled container. The narrow lateral edges of panels 68 and 7() are both cut `free and the other longitudinal edge of each panel is also free.

Integral with narrow ledge 82 is the locking tab 91 formed by the generally U-shaped cut 90 in wall 68, which tab may be hinged along score line 8). Similarly, cover locking tab 93 formed by the generally U-shaped cut 92 in Wall 70 may be hinged along score line 84. The area of juncture of the tabs 91 or 93 and the narrow horizontal ledge 82 or 86 may be left unscored if desired and, in any case, should be scored only on the innermost side (80 of FIGURE 5) so as to insure maximum rigidity if the tabs are pushed upward from beneath. This assures maximum effectiveness in the operation of the tabs for purposes of holding the top flaps 22 and 24 in place. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, three-sided cuts 94 and 96 traverse each of the narrow horizontal ledges 82 and 86 and, for a short distance, coincide with score lines 81 or 85. The tabs so formed by the cuts 94 and 96 rest directly on top of side walls 34 and 36 respectively when the box is assembled, as shown in FIGURE 2, thereby urging the cover locking tabs 91 and 93 into a horizontal position.

In erecting the container into the form shown in FIG- URE 2, end wall panel 36 is bent upwardly around hinged crease 32 while the bottom reinforcing panel 46 is bent at right angles to end wall panel 36 about crease 42. Simultaneously, `si-de wall 16 is bent -at right angles to exterior bottom panel I10 and the opposite end Wall 34 is bent at right angles around crease 32 while interior bottom reinforcing panel 44 is bent upwardly about crease 40. Panels 52 and 54 are then pulled down tightly against end wall panels 28 and 30, respectively, and each of panels 28 and 30 is bent upwardly about crease lines 26 following which side panel 14 is bent lupwardly at a right angle to bottom 10 about crease line 12. Panels 56 and `58 are `forced tightly over panels 52 and S4, respectively, so as to form a reinforcement of triple thickness, and each ytriple -thick unit is placed against the interior of end -wall 34 or 36. The two panelsr68 and 70 are thereafter swung inwardly and tongues 72 land 74 inserted in the slots 76 and 78.

After the container has been iilled with produce or the like, individual cover flaps 22 and 24 are swung inwardly, as shown in FIGURE 4, and pressed against the upper surfaces of the locking tabs 91 and 93 until the locking tabs are hinged downward suiliciently to permit the corners of the cover flaps 22 and 24 to slip beneath the locking tabs. The U-shaped cut lines `94 and 96 each having parallel arms and a base facilitate the hinge action so that it is relatively easy to press the corners of the cover flaps 22 or 24 beneath each of the locking tabs 91 or 93. However, the corners of the flaps are not readily released, for, as shown in FIGURE 5, the locking tabs 91 and 93 are deterred from pivoting upwardly from the position which these tabs occupy in FIGURE by the manner in which the bottom-most edge of the tab formed by the cut lines 94 and 96 rest directly against an edge of end wall 34 or 36.

It is obvious that several of the end wall panels shown herein could be eliminated, it being necessary only that there be two, such as, 34 and 68 at one end and preferably, but not necessarily, two at the other end. Also, the threesided cuts 94 and `96 could be eliminated, though the locking tabs would not then be as smoothly operating as those described above. The tabs 91 and 93 would still be integral with the narrow ledges 82 and 86 and would be held in a horizontal position thereby. In any event, there should be no score line along the top of locking tabs 91 and 93 directly above score lines 80 and 84 as this would permit the locking tabs to bend along the score line and thus defeat their purpose. The tabs would no longer be self-sustaining and would, as has been seen in prior art locking structures, be effective only if glued to the cover flaps.

A further modification involves the use of only a single cover flap 22 or 24 which may be substantially the equivalent, in dimensions, of bottom panel 10. Obviously, the locking tab principle shown herein is equally applicable.

Finally, while a container having a reinforced bottom with end walls articulated to side walls has been shown, it is obviously possible to secure each outermost end wall directly to the main bottom panel l0 so that, for example, outer end walls 34 and 36 are articulated along lines 15, score lines 32 then, of course, becoming cut lines and bottom reinforcing panels 44 and 46 being eliminated. All four sides of the container thus fold upwardly at right angles to the bottom, but the locking tab principle remains eifecive.

Obviously many modifications and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention, and therefore only such limitations should be imposed as are indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A fiberboard container suitable for produce and the like comprising: a rectangular bottom panel having two opposed longitudinal edges and two opposed lateral edges and having at right angles to the longitudinal edges thereof a pair of side panels, at least one of said side panels having articulated along a top longitudinal edge thereof a top panel, said bottom panel having positioned at right angles to the lateral edges thereof a pair of outer end wall panels, at least one of said end wall panels having articulated at right angles thereto along the upper longitudinal edge of the said end wall panel a narrow ledge, said ledge, in turn, having articulated theretofalong a second longitudinal edge thereof an inner end wall reinforcing panel, the two lastmentioned end wall panels being folded to form a reinforced end wall; and a tab integral with said ledge and formed by a generally U-shaped cut extending from the line of articulation of the said inner end wall reinforcing panel and said narrow ledge and extending into said inner end wall reinforcing panel, said tab normally lying in the plane of said ledge and extending sufficiently far over the bottom panel of the said container so that a corner of the said cover panel may be held in place therebeneath.

2. A berboard container suitable for produce and the like comprising: a rectangular bottom panel having two opposed longitudinal edges and two opposed lateral edges and having at right angles to the longitudinal edges thereof a pair of side panels, said side panels having articulated along the top longitudinal edges thereof a pair of top panels, said bottom panel having positioned at right angles to the lateral edges thereof a pair of outer end wall panels, each of the said outer end wall panels having articulated at right angles thereto along the upper longitudinal edges thereof a narrow ledge, each of said ledges, in turn, having articulated thereto along a second longitudinal edge thereof an inner end wall reinforcing panel, each of the said inner end wall reinforcing panels being folded to form, with said outer end wall panels, reinforced end walls; and a tab integral with each of said ledges and formed by a generally U-shaped cut extending from the line of articulation of each of the said inner end wall reinforcing panels and the adjacent narrow ledge and extending into said end wall reinforcing panel, said tab normally lying in the plane of said adjacent ledge and extending sufficiently far over the bottom panel of the said container that corners of the said cover panels may be held in place therebeneath.

3. A generally rectangular tiberboard container suitable for produce and the like comprising: a rectangular bottom panel having two opposed longitudinal edges and two opposed lateral edges and having at right angles to the longitudinal edges thereof a pair of side panels, at least one of said side panels having articulated along a top longitudinal edge thereof a top panel, said bottom panel having positioned at right angles to the lateral edges thereof a pair of outer end wall panels, at least one of said outer end wall panels having articulated at right angles thereto along the upper longitudinal edge of the said outer end wall panel a narrow ledge, said ledge, in turn, having articulated thereto along a second longitudinal edge thereof an inner end wall reinforcing panel, the two last-mentioned end wall panels being folded to form a reinforced end wall; a tab integral with said ledge and formed by a generally U-shaped cut extending from the line of articulation of the said inner end wall reinforcing panel and the adjacent narrow ledge and extending into said inner end wall reinforcing panel, said tab normally lying in the plane of said ledge and extending sufliciently far over the bottom panel of the said container so that a corner of the said cover panel may be held in place therebeneath; and a second generally U- shaped cut in the said ledge opposed to the said tab, two legs of the said second U-shaped cut traversing the said ledge and the base of the said second U-shaped cut coinciding with the line of articulation of the said outer end wall panel and said ledge.

4. A generally rectangular berboard container suitable for produce and the like comprising: a rectangular bottom panel having two opposed longitudinal edges and two opposed lateral edges and having at right angles to the longitudinal edges thereof a pair of side panels, said side panels having articulated along the top longitudinal edges thereof a pair of top panels, said bottom panel having positioned at right angles to the lateral edges thereof a pair of outer end wall panels, each of said outer end wall panels having articulated at right angles thereto along the upper longitudinal edge thereof a narrow ledge, each of said ledges, in turn, having articulated thereto along a second longitudinal edge thereof an inner end wall reinforcing panel, each of the said last-mentioned inner end wall panels being folded, with said outer end wall panels, to form reinforced end walls; a tab integral with each of said ledges and formed by generally U- shaped cuts extending from the line of articulation of the said inner end wall reinforcing panels and said narrow ledges and extending into each of said inner end wall reinforcing panels, each of said tabs normally lying in the plane of the ledge adjacent thereto and extending sufficiently far over the bottom panel of the said container that corners of the said cover panels may be held in place therebeneath; and a second generally U-shaped cut in each of the said ledges, each of the second U-shaped cuts being opposite a tab and having a pair of parallel arms and a base, the said arms traversing the said ledge and the said base coinciding with the line of articulation of the said exterior end wall and the said ledge.

5. A generally rectangular berboard blank suitable for being folded into a container for produce and the like comprising: a rectangular main bottom panel having free lateral edges; a side panel articulated along each longitudinal edge of the said main bottom panel, each of the said side panels having articulated thereto along one longitudinal edge thereof a second panel of a size substantially equivalent t0 that of the said side panels, each of said second panels serving as a top flap and together constituting a top for the said container, each of the firstmentioned side panels having articulated t0 diagonally opposed lateral edges thereof an end wall panel, the said end wall panels serving as exterior end wall panels when said blank is assembled into a container, each of the said exterior end wall panels having articulated at right angles thereto along the upper longitudinal edge thereof a narrow ledge, each of said ledges, in turn, having articulated thereto along a second longitudinal edge thereof an inner end wall reinforcing panel, each pair of exterior and interior end wall panels being folded theretogether to form a reinforced end wall; and a tab integral with each of said ledges and formed by a generally U-shaped cut extending from the line of articulation 0f each of the said inner end wall reinforcing panels and the adjacent narrow ledge and extending into said inner end Wall reinforcing panel, said tab normally lying in the plane of the said integral ledge and extending sufficiently far over the bottom panel of the said container that, when the said container is assembled, corners of the said cover panels may be held in place therebeneath.

v6. A generally rectangular, iberboard blank suitable for being folded into a container for produce and the like comprising: a rectangular main bottom panel having free lateral edges; a side panel articulated along each longitudinal edge of the said main bottom panel, each of the said side panels having articulated thereto along one longitudinal edge thereof a second panel of a size `substantially equivalent to that of the said side panels, each of said second panels serving as a top iiap and together constituting a top for the said container, each of the iirst-mentioned side panels having articulated to each lateral edge thereof an end wall panel whereby four end wall panels are directly articula-ted to said side panels, two of said four end wall panels serving as exterior end wall panels when said blank is assembled into a container, each of the said end wall panels having articulated thereto along a rst longitudinal edge thereof a narrow ledge, each of the said narrow ledges, in turn, having articulated thereto along a second longitudinal edge thereof an inner end wall reinforcing panel; and a tab integral with one of said ledges at either end of the said blank, each 0f said tabs being formed by a generally U-shaped cut extending from the line of articulation of one inner end wall reinforcing panel and the integral ledge and extending into said inner end wall reinforcing panel, said tab normally lying in the plane of said integral ledge when the said container is assembled and extending suiciently far over the bottom panel of the said container that corners of the said cover panels may be held in place therebeneath.

7. A generally rectangular, fiberboard blank suitable for being folded into a container for produce and the like comprising: a rectangular main bottom panel having free lateral edges; a side panel articulated along each longitudinal edge of the said main bottom panel, each of the said side panels having articulated thereto along one longitudinal edge thereof a second panel of a size substantially equivalent to that of the said side panels, each of said second panels serving as a top tlap and together constituting a top for the said container, each of the first-mentioned side panels having articulated to each lateral edge thereof an end wall panel whereby four end wall panels are directly articulated to said side panels, two of said four end wall panels serving as exterior end wall panels when said blank is assembled into a container, each of the said end wall panels having articulated thereto along a rst longitudinal edge thereof a narrow ledge, each of the said narrow ledges, in turn, having articulated thereto along a second longitudinal edge thereof an inner end wall reinforcing panel; a ta'b integral with one of said ledges at either end of the said blank, each of said tabs being formed by a generally U-shaped cut extending from the line of articulation of one inner end wall reinforcing panel and the narrow ledge articulated thereto and extending into said inner end wall reinforcing panel, said tab normally lying in the plane of said integral ledge when the said container is assembled and extending sufficiently far over the bottom panel of the said container that corners of the said cover panels may be held in place therebeneath; and a second generally U-shaped cut in each of the said ledges, each of said second U-shaped cuts being opposite a tab and having a pair of parallel arms and a base, the said arms traversing the said ledge and the said base coinciding with the line of articulation of the said exterior end wall and the said ledge.

8. A generally rectangular, berboard blank suitable for being folded into a container for produce and the like comprising: a rectangular main bottom panel having free lateral edges, a side panel articulated along each longitudinal edge of the said main Ibottom panel, each of the said side panels having articulated thereto along one longitudinal edge thereof a second panel of a size substantially equivalent to that of the said side panels, each of said second panels serving as a top ap and together constituting a top for the said container, each of the rstmentioned side panels having articulated to each lateral edge thereof an end wall panel whereby four end wall panels are directly articulated to said side panels, two of said four end wall panels serving as exterior end wall panels when said blank is assembled into a container, each of the said end wall panels having articulated thereto along a iirst longitudinal edge thereof a narrow ledge, each of the said narrow ledges, in turn, having articulated thereto along a second longitudinal edge thereof an inner end Wall reinforcing panel; a tab integral with one of said ledges at either end of the said blank, each of said tabs being formed by a generally U-shaped cut extending from the line of articulation of one inner end wall reinforcing panel and the narrow ledge articulated thereto and extending into said inner end Vwall reinforcing panel, said tab normally lying in the plane of said integral ledge when the said container is assembled and extending sufliciently far over the bottom panel of the said container that corners of the said cover panels may be held in place therebeneath; a second generally U-shaped cut in each of the said ledges, each of said second U-shaped cuts being opposite a tab and having a pair of parallel arms and a base, the said arms traversing the said ledge and the said base coinciding with the line of articulation of the said exterior end wall and the said ledge; and a bottom reinforcing panel articulated along a longitudinal edge of each of the said two exterior end wall panels, each of the said 4bottom reinforcing panels having `a free leading edge and being of such a size that when the said blank is folded into a container, the said bottom will be substantially completely covered and the edges of said bottom reinforcing panels will abut one another.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,044,301 H111 June 16, 1936 2,053,857 weiss sept. s, 1936 2,989,223 Magazzu June 20, 1961 

